Card-distributing machine



A. S;'TREW.

CARD DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1920.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- 5 la y 7 W n 3 Tf m m J u a w/ 4 V. B fi/ n P W 4 m 9/ n 2 /0 P w m C m 3 a 6 2 4. Pl 4 WITNESSES.- Jd WW M A. S. TREW CARD DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-8,1920.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

INVENTOR 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES A. s. TREW. CARD DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, I920.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- v u & m U N ww I MMkNY WM\% THU H W .bv \m b IIVI EIV TOR citizen of the United city of Portland, county To all whomit may concern: r y

Be it known that I AnrHUeS .Tnnw, a 'tates, residing in the of Multnomah,

and State of ,Oregon, have invented, certain newa'nd useful Improvements in Card-Distributing Machines, of which the following is a'speclficatiom My invention relates to card distributing machines of the character referred to 1 'n'- my pending applications filed, respectively, April 20, 1912, Ser1al No. 692,146, and August 25, 1913, Serial No. 786,54 6, and has for its principal object to provide another improved and highly eflicient mechanism for distributing cards, tickets and the lllie. Among the other objects of the present 1nvention are,-to provide in a machine of the character referred to an improved and highly eflicient mechanism fOI mOVHIg the cards from the container along a course of travel; to provide in connection therewith improved and effective swltch members for directing said cards at will from Said course of travel into the receiving pockets or re-.

ceptacles; to provide in connection, therewith an improved container carriage for-the cards, with means for feeding the same forwardly bodilyto an ejector without exert-- ing any increased pressure on the cards contained therein which wouldv interfere with their successful ejection, one by one, from said container. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of one practical embodiment of the invention illustrated 1n the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part hereof, and in which,

Figure 1 is atop plan view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, w1th parts in section, as alongiline'22 of Fig; 1; Fig; 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 33 of, Fig. 2; a

- I line 1-4, Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view'taken on Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the uph per partof the machine, taken on line 5-5,

of Figs. 1 and 2; I I

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the upper part of the, machine, taken on line- 6--6 of'Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 is a partial rear elevation showing magnets with circuit connections indicated; Fig. 8 is a detailed view of one of the cAIm-ms'ramu'rme MACHINE;

V Specification of Letters Batent. Patented Apr, 19, 1921: j Applicationflled January -8,- 19950. Serial No. 850,252. 7

ings, my'invention as here illustrated, com-f prises a supporting frame or table, composed of the end leg members 11, with lower cross connecting members 2-2, supporting a lower shelf 3, and with upper connecting members 4-4, supporting an upper .shelf5, and with a table top 6 supported,

thereabove. I e

I will first describe the card container mechanism with the ejector for ejecting the cards therefrom, ne by one. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and git will be noted that at the left hand end of the-table 5, there is an opening therethrough, at-the bottom of which at opposite. sides thereof, are track members 7-7, upon which moves crosswise of said table a card container carriage 8, provided with wheels or rollers, as 9-9, adapted to said track members. I The front edge of the bottom 10 of the container is adapted to move under a front window 11, stationary with the table. top 6. Instead of pushing the cards forwardly together in the container, I have found that it is better to provide a movable container carriage and thus avoid undue compression on the cards which interferes with their ejection from the container. Thecard container is normally drawn forwardly by means of a weight W; suspended from the top by means of a cable 12, running over a pulley 13, and attached to.the rear end of the bottom 10 of the card carriage or container 8, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. .As the container carriage is thus moved forwardly, the cards C therein are moved forwardly with the foremost card against the retaining window 11, immediately in the rear of which is a reciprocating ejector member 14}, Figs. 1 and 2, upon the-end of a plunger rod 15, mounted to be reciprocated through standards 16-16, by means of a rocker arm 17, pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at 18, and adapted to be rocked forwardly by means of a core 19, in a magnet 20, with which it is connected as indicated, whenever said magnet is energized, said core 19 and lever17, being moved to the inoperative or normal position by means of a spring 21, I attached to said core at its opposite end and to a stationary part 22 secured to the upper shelf'5. Thus when said magnet 20 is energized, in a manner to be hereinafter described, its core 19 is moved to theleft operating through the rocker arm 17 to move the ejector 14 to the right so as to eject the foremost card laterally from the opposite side of the container, as through a side openin 23, Fig. 1. a

illong the table top 6, extending laterally from said opening 23, is a passageway, or course of travel, designated 24, with a back wall as 25 extending therealong and with a top ledge, as 26 above the same. Ro-tatably mounted at intervals along the rearof said passageway and projecting through said back wall 25, are a number of transfer or feed rollers, 27-2727. On the opposite side of said passageway and opposite said rollers, and frictionally driven thereby, are corresponding smaller feed rollers, as 28-28-28. A large roller 30 and a small roller 30', adjacent the discharge opening 23, serve to grip the cards as they are ejected from the container and to pass them along to the rollers 27 and 28, as will be readily understood, each pair of rollers passing them to the next pair, unless intercepted by a switch to be hereinafter referred to.

Said rollers 30 and 27 are mounted upon the upper ends of vertical shafts, designated, respectively, 30 and 27, mounted in suitable bearings through the table top 6 and at their lower ends projecting through the upper shelf 5, as indicated, and are provided between said table 6 and shelf 5 with driving, grooved pulleys, as 27 a and 30. Also mounted between said table top 6 and the upper shelf 5,"are idler pulleys, as 31-31, to give direction and frictional contact to a driving belt or cable 32 for driving the pulleys 27 which drive the transfer rollers 27, which driving belt or cable 32, after passing over guide pulleys, as 33-33, passes down to a driving pulley 34, upon a motor35, by means of which the feed or transfer rollers 30,

2727 are continuously driven. through the connections just described. Therefore, as a card is ejected from the container carriage at the side opening 23 thereof, it is first gripped by the rollers 30 and '30 and thrown along the passageway 24 to the first pair of rollers 2728, thence to the second pair and so on along the passageway leading straight out'from the discharge opening 23 at the side of the container. The small rollers 28,

instead of being mounted directly upon vertical shafts, are mounted upon crank-like members, as 28 upon the upper ends of the shafts 28*, which are mounted between the table top 6 and the upper shelf 5,'and are provided with coiled springs, as 28, on the shelf 5, which normally hold the small rollers in yielding contact with the large rollers 30 and 27 whereby to grip the cards or tickets and pass them along.

36, 36 and 36 designates three receiving pockets or receptacles adapted to receive the cards or tickets to be distributed. It is understood, of course, that the machine can be extended to any length desired and with any number of feed rollers and receiving pockets. Within each pocket or receptacle is a follower head, as 36', provided at its opposite ends with anti-friction rollers, adapted to run in inclined guideways, as 367, in the opposite side walls of the pocket, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5, whereby said follower head automatically, by gravity, tends to move the cards or tickets forwardly inthe pocket or receptacle. Mounted at thefront of each pocket or receptacle, isa rotating beater, as 37, adapted to keep the cards or tickets discharged into the pocket pushed back against the follower head 36'. Said heaters 37 are each mounted upon the upper end of a shaft, as 38, extended through the table top 6 and the upper shelf 5, as indicated, and each beater shaft 38 is provided with a gear, as 39, see Figs. 3 and 6, adapted to mesh with an adjacent gear, as 40, mounted upon each of the shafts which carries-an idler pulley, 31. Thus said beaters are driven at a high speed from the idler pulleys which are driven by the belt or cable 32 from the motor 35. r I

I will next describe the switch mechanisms by means of which' the cards sent along the passageway'24, by the feed rollers 30-30 and 2728, are turned into the receiving pockets 36, 36, or 36"; 41 and 42 designate movable switch members, hingedly mounted at their attached ends to supporting posts, as P, and 43 designatesa fixed switch block, which'need not be movable for it directs the cards or-tickets into 'and each comprises a Hat strip of spring metal set edgewise, and each being cut out or. notched at its free end as at 4land 42',

i so as to straddle the rollers 2728, and each being bent back upon itself a short distance at its free or forward end (see Fig. 8), with the rearwardly projecting portions flared outwardly, as at'41 and 42 and then bent inwardly at an angle, toward the body, but

not attached thereto, as clearly indicated in.

Fig. 1. Mounted between the main portion of each switch member and the bent. back portion thereof, in the table 6, is an upsta'nd-;

ing pin or stud, as 44,of insulating material, and when the switch members 41 and 42 are moved inwardly across the passageway 24, in a manner hereinafter described, upon their hinges,41 and 42', the lower flaring spring portions 41 and 42 of said switch members yieldingly bear against said pins or 20 sagewa studs 44,- and operate todraw said switch members back into their normal positions as soon asthey are released. The portions 41 and 42 of the switch members 41 and 42 are so curved ,and positioned that when any of the switch members are moved across the card passageway, they form .an efl'ectlve guide or switch for directing any cards traveling said passageway into the pocket or receptacle whose switch member ISVOPGII, and

into position to be beaten back into the pocket by the heaters referred to.

As a means for operating said switch members 41 and 42, I have provided an electro-magnet for each, positioned opposite the switch and at the opposite s1de of the passageway 24,'as' indicated. When said magnets are energized, they operate to draw said switch members across said card pasto direct the cards or tickets into the poo et or receptacle opposite thereto.

A series of controlling keys, as at K, Fig.

l, is rovided with which to manually control' eoperation of the machineand the distribution of the cards in the card carriage 8. .A key is provided for each pocket or receptacle in which the cards or tickets are to be distributed. These keys are marked 1, 2, and 3, and a fourth key R isshown whose function is to break the electric circuit at will so as to permit the parts to be returned to their normal positions. Key 1 corresponds to pocket 36, key 2 to pocket 36 and key 3 to pocket 36". ,Each

. key is connected into an electric circuit which controls the ejector magnet 20, and each pocket key is also connected into and controls a circuit which energizes the particular magnet for moving the switch mem- 40 ber which directs the cards or tickets into I its particular pocket, as for example, 'keyTl controls a circuit which not only energizes the magnet 20 for operating the ejector, but

also controls a circuit which energizes mag .45 net which operates todraw switch member 41 to itself and across the cardpassageway 24, so as to direct the card or ticket traveling the, passageway 24 into the pocket 36.. Key 2-in addition to controlling-thecircuit including the ejector magnet 20, controls a "circuit including the magnet 46 which, when energized, opens switch 42. a

I will now describe the circuit connections,

I in connection with the various movable parts, and as illustratefd in Fig. 9 of the drawings, in which the several parts heretofore described are given the same reference numbers.

The electric energy foroperating the mechanismcan be taken from any suitable source, with, the main lines connected tothe machine in, any. desired manner, as by means i of two terminal plates, P and .P on the back of the machine, and also shown in Fig.

7, which said main circuits can be connected through a main switch, as S, mounted in any convenient location on the machine, as 1'nd1- cated in Fig. 2.

The operating circuits run through the machine from terminal plate P to terminal plate P, and in the present embodiment ofthe-invention, there are four circuits which I will designate as circuit one, circuit two," circuit three and circuit four.

Circuit one is traced from terminal plate P through the line designated C. and extends from the plate P to and through a key R of the key board-,a spring contact member R, thence to and around an oil switch magnet OSM, through lamp L and thence through the main card switch members 41,

42 and 43, by means of the spring contact members 41, 42, and 43, clearly indicatedv in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 8, and thence to the terminal plate P. This circuit is normally completed and is broken by pressing the key R, which moves it away from the contact member R, and is also momentarily broken by the passing of a card or ticket between any one of the contact members 41,

42, or 43 and the switch member with whichit normally stands in contact.

Circuit two is traced from the terminal plate P through the line designated C and extends from the plate P to and through the oil switch OS, which has been closed by the passingof clrcuit one through the oil switch magnet OSM, thence to the key plate and through any of the keysal, 2 or 3, over a the key lines C C or C as the case may be, thence to the magnets 45, 46 or 47, thence to line C and to the terminal late P.

Circuit three is traced over t e lineC and starts from the "oil switch OS, thence to and around relay magnet RM, through lamp L, through relay contacts 45, 46, or 47 as the, case may be, which contact members have been closed by circuit two passing over scribed and traced on Fig. 9 of the drawings,

cooperate with each other inthe following manner: Supposing key 1 ispressed by the operator with the ob ect in view of causing theforemost card in the container to be ejected anddeposited in thefirst receiving pocket 36. The pressing of this key- 1 com-- pletes-circuit two described over the line C, energizing magnet 45. This closes contact member 45 and also attracts main switch magnetismof magnet 45, which opens and holds open the main switch 41 leading into pocket 36. There is also established circuit four from the oil switch OS over lines C and through the magnet 20 which moves the ejector and ejects the foremost card or ticket in the container. key L'circuits, two, three and four are all completed, the main switch member -is opened, the ejector is operated and the card started. The card or ticket is forced along the card passageway adjacent to the card pockets in the manner hereinbefore described. As soon as the card passes between the main switch member 41 leading into the first pocket 36, and the light spring contact member 41, it thereby breaks circuitwone,

which runs over line C. As this circuit ,controls the oil switch magnet OSM, and it is thus momentarily 'demagnetized, the oil switch OS is opened, thereby opening all the other circuits. Assoon as the card passes between contact member 41 and the main switch 41, the circuit one, over line C is complete, being only momentarily broken by the passing of the card, and this is done to open the oilswitch. Thus whenever any of the keys 1, 2 or 3, is pressed,-the action just described takes place. By pressing the,

key R, circuit one is manually broken, the

oil switch opened and all the circuits opened at will.

Thus itwill be noted that I have provided an improved card distributing machine in which. when akey is pressed, a card' or ticket is ejected from a container and instantly transmitted to a card-receiving pocket or receptacle corresponding with that particular key and that the pressing of that key sets into operation the mechanism necessary to accomplish-this act, and that the card itself. as it passes into the pocket, operates to restore the mechanism to its normal condition, ready for another operation by the same key, or any other key.

I am aware that changes can be made in the invention as illustrated and described without departing from the spirit thereof and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to the details here shown and described, eX-

cept as'I may be limited by the hereto. appended claims. 4

I claim:

1. In a card distributing machine, in com-- Thus by pressing Y 2. In a card distributing machine, a card bination, a container for cards, an ejector working therein, a series of card receiving pockets, with a straight horizontal card assa eway formed from said container a ong side of said pockets, a series of feed rollers arranged in -pairs along said passageway and adapted to feed the cards along said passageway from said container, with means for driving the same, switch membersgfor said card receiving pockets adapted tribe' moved, across said passageway to direct cards into said pockets, a series of keys colresponding to said receiving pockets, and operating connections from said keys to said ejector and said switch members, whereby the movement of the key in one direction op-,. erates said ejector to, eject a card and also sets the desired switch member.

' container carriage movably mounted, means for moving the'same forwardly, a stationary retaining member under which the base of the carriage moves with the cards resting thereagainst, a card ejector and means for operating the same to eject "the exposed card from said container carriage one by one as said card carriage advances.

ating said switch members simultaneously with the ejection of a' card.

4. In a distributing machine for cards, tickets and the like, a container with an ejector for ejecting the cards therefrom one by one, a series of receiving pockets with a straight. card passageway extending horizontally from said container along said receiving pockets, a series of feed rollers arranged in pairs at intervals. along said passageway for passing said'cards, tickets or the like along said passageway, switch members movably mounted and adapted, to be moved across said passageway between pairs of feed rollers to intercept said cards and to turn'them into said pockets, means for driving said feed rollers, a series of operating keys corresponding to said receiving pockets, and operating connections from said keys to said ejector and to said several switch members, whereby the manipulation of a key in one direction operates said ejector to eject a card and set a corresponding switch member, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the character referred 3. In a card distributing machine, in com d to, a carriage movable bodily in opposite directions and adapted tohold a supply of tickets or cards edgewise thereon and to move them odily forwardly, means for moving said carriage forwardly, a retainin window" against which the foremost car rests as said card carriage is moved for:

wardly, and means for ejecting said foremost card laterally from said carriage, for the purpose indicated, 7 j

6. In a machine of the character referred to, in combination, a card carriage adapted to hold a supply of cards, tickets or the like in edgewise position, means for moving the same bodily forwardly with the cards thereon as said cards are ejected therefrom, a reciprocating ejector adapted to eject said cards one by one laterally from saidcarriage, means for operating said ejector at will, and a retaining window in; front of said carriage and against which said cards are lightly pressed as said carriage is moved forwardly, substantially as described.

7. In a distributing machine of the character referred to, a supporting table, a card container, an ejector for ejecting cards therefrom, one by one, means for operating the same, a series of receiving pocketsalong said table with means for holding cards therein in order, means forming a passageway from said container along adjacent said receiving pockets, feed rollers arranged in pairs along said passageway and adapted to grip the ejected card from said container and drive it along said passageway, switch members movably mounted for each receiving'pocket and adapted to be movedacross said passageway between pairs of feed rollers to intercept said cards and turn them into said pockets, and means for operatin at will said switch members simultaneous y with the ejecting movement of said ejector, substantially as described.

8. In a card distributing machine, in combination, a table, a card container carriage movably mounted thereon, means for moving the same forwardly, an ejector adapted to eject cards from said carriage one by one,

a series of receptacles for said cards, switch members movably mounted to direct said cards into said receptacles, a series of feed rollers arranged in pairs and adapted to feed said cards from, said container carriage along side of said receptacles magnets for operating said ejector and said switchcmembers, a series of operating keys corresponding with said receptacles, a source of electrical energy, circuit connections therefrom to said magnets and including said keys for controlling saidcircuits, whereby thepress ing of a key causes the operation of the ejector and a switch member, and means for holding'the cards in order 'in said recep tacles, substantially as, described.

9. na machine of the character referred said receptacles, and means whereby said.

cards 'break said circuits as they move into said receptacles.

to, aseries of card receptacles with a card passageway along adjacent thereto, switch members for directing cards into saidreceptacles from said assageway, means for moving said cards a ong said passageway, magnets for controlling said switch members, a source of electricity with circuit connections to said magnets, ,a series of finger keys corresponding to said receptacles and connected into saidcircirirts for closing the same, and contact membe s in said circuits adapted to be separated by the passing of cards therebetween, whereby to momentarily break said circuits, substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the character referred to, in combination, a card container, an

adapted to be moved across said passageway to intercept said cards and turn them into said receptacles, magnets for moving said switch members, a series-of finger keys corresponding to said receptacles, means for connecting said machine with a source of electricity, a plurality of circuit connections through said machine including said magnets and said finger keys, and magnet-controlled contact members in said circuits, whereby one circuit when completed will establish other circuits, and whereby one circuit when broken, will cause the breaking of the others, substantially as described.

12. In a machine of the character referred to, for distributing cards, electrically-con: trolled mechanism and circuit connections therefor to determine the points of distribu- 7 3 10K In a'machlne of the character referred tion of the cards, contact members arranged in the path of travel of the cards to be distributed, and means for feeding cards between said contact members to momentarily separate them and break the determining circuit controlled thereby. g -13. A card distributing machine compris- I said pockets and switch members with means forpropelling the cards along said passageing; in combination, a. card container, an electrically operated ejector for ejecting cards therefrom one by one, a series of receiving pockets, a series of electrically controlled switch members, one for each pocket, to direct cards into said pockets, means providing a passageway for cards along adjacent way, a series of operating keys corresponding with the receivlng pockets, with electrical connections to said ejector and to said switch members, whereby the pressing of a key sets said mechanism into operation, and means operated by a passing card to 15 sto said operation.

igned at Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregon, this '23 day of Dec, 1919.

ARTHUR s. TnEw. 

